Circuit-breaker.



P. C. HEWITT.

CIRCUIT BREAKER-l APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1905.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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NH/ M424 (9 b M Ar/W P. C. HEWITT. CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1905.

1,079,410. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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I F 7- d d 4 ar- 13 afioz'mm Wfi P. C. HBWl'l'T.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1905.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

4* SHEETS-SHEET 3.

P. C. HEWITT.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1005.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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WITNESSES: v R

114;. L4- yaw??- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER. COOPER HEWITT, OE NEW YORK, N.. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPO- BATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER Coornn Hew- ITT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit- Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in electrical apparatus of the character employed for closing and interrupting electric circuits conveying currents.

One form of the apparatus comprises an inclosing chamber through which the current may be made to flow through a gas or vapor or such conducting medium as capable of developing a high resistance to starting at the negative electrode and in which it may be interrupted. The terminals formed by interrupting the conductor in the inclosing chamber are preferably of such a material, or of material in such a condition, as will present to the initial passage of the electric current, a negative electrode resistance. In the operation of this form of device, when the conductor is ruptured in the container, a gas or vapor. path or the equivalent is introduced in thecircu-it carrying the current, and, further,

two terminals are so formed. These terminals or one of them, may then be made of such material and under such physical conditions as will present to the initial passage of the current, a. high negative electrode resistance or reluctance to starting. Such terminals may consist of mercury, or mercury for one terminal and some other convenient conducting material for the other; the object being to avail of the establishment or; the negative electrode resistance at one of these terminals on the cessation of current flow and through this means prevent the starting up of the interrupted current.

A convenient mechanical form of device consists: of a revcluble chamber containing a quantity of mercury bridging two conductors one at least of w ich is capable of being carried out of electrical connection with the mercury at will and a condenser for bridging these terminals which may be capable of being charged oppositely in si to the charge of the terminals. The action then is as follows: When the chamber is turned to such osition as to. interrupt the continuity oi the mercury there is established a gas or vapor path between the terminals 2 or electrodes so formed, and thereupon the I condenser being brought into action, that is, connected across the terminals of the device, it causes a cessation of current flow through ithe device for a short period of time, thus 2 allowing the negative electrode resistance to' assert itself at one of the terminals and so. prevents the passage of current. In prac- ;t1 ce, it is advantageous under certain condition-s to have the condenser charged in the opposite sense before being brought into contact with the terminals of the device, thereby insuring better action at the contacting jpcints due to the difference of voltage thus attained, and also having the advantage of sa larger ratio of current to the condenser. 1 It is not always necessary that the condenser L should have a reverse charge forunder certain conditions the mere charging of the I condenser when connected with the electrodes will serve to interrupt the flow of current through the gas or vapor path.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a device suitable for carrying out my invention; F i 2, is an end view thereof; Figs. 3, 4, 5 an 6, are modifications; Fig. 7 shows the switch assembled, and Fig. 8 shows a modification of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a gas or vapor chamber containing two electrodes, 2 and 3, the former here shown as connected with a conductor, 4, leading from a suitable source of direct electric currents, 5. The electrode 3 is connected with a conductor, 6, leading to a work circuit, 7, the return conductor being represented at 8. A quantity of mercury, 9, is shown as bridging the space between the two projections or pockets, .12 and 13, containing the electrodes 2 and 3 respectively.

The chamber 1 is shown as being rotataand 14, so that on turning, the pockets 12 and 13, will be carried upward and thus the bridge of mercury 9 will be broken, leaving the vapor in the chamber 1 the only path between the electrodes 2 and 3. The same action of rotation will connect the respective plates 16 and 17 of acondenser 15 with the, electrodes 2 and 3, respectively. This may be accomplished in any convenient manner. In the drawings, I have shown the plates 16 and 17 as being respectively connected; by

conductors 18 and 19 with the Contact bly mounted upon suitable trunnions, 11

brushes, 20 and 21, resting upon commutators or sliding contacts 22 and 23. These conimutators each have two sections, those against which the brushes bear when the apparatus is in the position shown in Fig. 1, being connected by conductors 24: and 25, respectively, through sliding contacts with the conductors-8 and 6, respectively. The condenser plate 16, therefore, receives anegative charge from the conductor 8, assuming that the conductor 4 is connected with the positive terminal and the conductor 8 with the negative terminal of the generator 5. Likewise, the condenser plate 17 receives a positive charge from the conductor 6. The remaining plates of the respective contact devices are connected with the electrodes 2 and 3, respectively, so that when the chamher 1' is rotated the condenser plates 16 and 17 are disconnected from the conductors 8 and 4 and connected with the electrodes 2 and 3, respectively, thus impressing upon the gas or vapor path a charge in the oppositddirection to that of the flow of current through the gas or vapor path. This results in an instant cessation of the current flow permitting the negative electrode ,resistance to establish itself within the chamber, thus causing a complete interruption of the circuit without causing any deleterious spark or electrical discharge.

In cases of electric circuits containing a large inductance it may be desirable to provide special means for receiving the heavy discharge therefrom. This may be accomplished in any convenient well-known way as, for instance, by making the condenser 15 of considerable capacity.

The time of connecting the condenser plates with the electrodes 2 and 3 may be varied so as to have those connections established either at the moment the vapor path is formed, or after an interval of greater or less duration.

In Figs. 3 and '4, I have shown a modification by means of which more than two electrodes, the leads of which are shown at 32, 33, 34 and 35, may be employed for more convenient use. in such cases as require a more rapid closing and interruptin of the circuit. By a continuous rotation o the device here shown and by properly adjusting the parts, the interruptions may be made very rapid. The connecting puddle of mercury remains at the lower side of the cylindrical chamber and bridges the electrodes only during the intervals that corresponding electrodes pass through the lowest portion of the arc of rotation.

Ther' are various ways of connecting up the mu tiple electrodes. For instance, as shownin Fig. 3, the contact rings are divided into four diametrically opposite sections, t e parts being so arranged that the escribed with reference to Fig. 1,

will be multiplied by reason of the presence of two effective pairs of terminals.

For producing the necessary motion of the container 1 about the axes of the trunnions l1 and 14 I provide a belt, 56, running around the trunnion 11 and transmitting energy thereto from the pulley 57, which is driven from the power shaft 59. The bearings 58 serve to maintain the power shaft 59 inrits proper position. v

In Fig. 5, a modification of the general form of inclosing chamber is shown wherein the two electrodes are side by side that is in line with the axis of rotation instead of their being transverse to their axis.

It is not always necessary to employ more than two electrodes as the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be employed for the same purpose, but by multiplying the electrodes the rate of rotation for a glven rate of interruption will be less.

' When more than two electrodes are used it will in most instances be preferable to provide an even number of such pairs of electrodes and there will be as many strips upon the commutator as there are electrodes. In those cases where it is not required to apply to the condenser a charge opposite to that of the electrodes, the lines leading from the mains 8 and 6 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) to the 5 plates of the contact rings 60 and 61 may be dispensed with. In such cases it is usually desirable to discharge the plates to earth after they have acted to break the circuit.- When desired, the energy inductively stored 'in the condenser atany opening of the circuit may be utilized for any suitable purpose. The condenser will then be ready for use in subsequent current interruptions.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the electrodes are in somewhat shallow extensions, the bottoms of which are shown as being covered with platinum plates, 32, 33, 34, and 35, constituting leads. It will be understood that the shapes of these projections may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of my invention. The rapidly interrupted currents taken off from such devices, for instance, those shown in Figs. 3 and 4, may be passed through the primary of a transformer and alternating currents induced in a secondary. This renders it possible to convenient-1y transform direct currents into alternating currents.

In Fig. 6 there is shown diagrammatically ar modification in which a vapor apparatus is provided with four electrodes, 42, 43, 44 and 45, equally spaced around the circumference with a puddle of mercury at the bottom sufficiently large to form electrical connection between two electrodes upon rotating the device on its trunnions. The segment commutator shown upon the axis supporting the condenser serves a tri le purpose, first, that of reversing the ine current through the device as one electrode is substitutedfor another, second, bringing the current into the device through one of the electrodes, thence through the mercury, thence from a second electrode to the primary of a transformer 46, thence to the return circuit, and, third, when the device is rotated so that the vapor gap is caused to exist in the device between one of the electrodes and the mercury, to bridge the device by means of a condenser, 15, thereby causing the cessation of current flow through the device which on further rotation serves to establish a How of current in the opposite direction. In this manner reverse currents are rapidly trans mitted through the primary of the trans former 46, the secondary of which is thus caused to deliver alternating currents to a work circuit 47. This same efi'ect may be produced in many ways with different forms of apparatus and in certain cases it may be more convenient to bring about the results without moving parts electrically.

The path of the current through the device can be traced more in detail as follows: In the position shown in the drawing, Fig. (3, current passes from the positive line to the conducting segment, 50, thence to the electrode 42, through the mercury 51, to the electrode 43, and back to the conducting segment 52 and thence through the transformer primary 46 in the direction of the arrow to the conducting segment 53 and the negative line. \Vhen the container 54, however, was in a position between 90 and 180 earlier than that shown in the figure, so that the electrodes 42 and 45 were both in contact with the. mercury 51, the current path was as follows: from the positive line to the conducting segment 52, through the transformer primary 46, in a direction op posite to the arrow, the conducting segment 50, the elect-rode 42, the mercury 51, the electrode 45, the conducting segment 55, to the negative lead of' the supply. As the co tainer 54 is rotated from the position assumed in the lastsentence, the electrode 45 separates from the mercury 51 and the current flows between .these two through a vapor path. Thereafter, however, the two plates of the condenser 15 come in contact with the conducting plates and 50 which throws the condenser in parallel to the vapor path, and as already described, causes a momentary withdrawal of the current therefrom with the consequent establishment of the negative electrode resistance. The operation of the device as thus fully described causes a passage of current in alternate directions through the primary 46, resulting in an alternating current in its secondary 47.

Fig. 7 shows the switch of Figs. 1 and 2 with the various rings assembled on the arm 14' the connections being the same as in t fse two figures. The reference characters have the same significance as before. The connections between the various rings and the several terminals constituting a part of the container may be made in any convenient form and rotated with the container. The connections of the stationary circuits such as the generator 5, the work circuit 7 and the condenser 15, are all made through suitable brushes as for example 20 and 21, the connections being clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modification of Fig. 3. In each instance after being charged from the source after interrupting the circuit, the condenser is discharged to earth through translating devices as already noted in the present specification. In this figure parts similarly numbered have the same olfice and function as those of Fig. 3. In Fig. 8 the sliprings (30 and 61 are connected to the earth through, respectively, the translating devices (32 and 68, the former being a motor and the latter a storage battery. It is seen that the charge acquired by the con denser in interrupting the current flow within the exhausted space is discharged from the condenserthrough the translating devices 62 and 63 and its energy thus utilized.

It is customary for long distance transmisison to use alternating currents of high voltage upon the main lines. This is largely due to the fact that the high voltage is more economical for transmission and may be readily transformed into low voltage at the receiving end,

By my present invention a convenient means is furnished for permitting the trans mission of high'volt-age direct current over the main circuits and utilizing the energy at the receiving end either as direct current or alternating current and at any desired voltage. For instance, the direct current of high voltage may be generated at the transmission station, or an alternating current of the desired voltage may, at that station, be transformed into a direct current and transmitted over the main line. At the re ceiving end the high voltage direct current may, if desired, be first converted into an alternating current by means of the device herein described, and the alternating current thus produced may have its voltage transformed in the usual way, and the transformed alternating current may, if desired, be then converted into direct current of appropriate form. By condensers is meant any source of capacity including electrolytic capacity.

The means shown in Fig. 4 for moving the container may be utilized in connection with any of the other figures or, where suitable,'with any embodiment of my invention or any other desired means may be substituted therefor.

In a divisional application filed on the 6th of September, 1912, Serial Number 718,792, claims are made covering certain other features of the invention described herein.

I claim as my invention 1. A circuit controller device consisting of a gasbr vapor chamber, electrodes therein, means for bridging the electrodes, means for moving the chamber for interrupting such connection, a gas or vapor path for receiving the current flow, and means for interrupting the flow of current through the gas or vapor path.

2; A circuit controlling device consisting of a movable container, positive and negative electrodes therein, conducting means for bridging the electrodes, means for opening the circuit therethrough and for substituting a gas or vapor path, and an external condenser bridging the electrodes.

3. A circuit controlling device consisting of a movable container, positive and negative electrodes therein, conducting means for bridging the electrodes, means for opening the circuit therethrough and for substituting a gas or vapor path, an external condenser bridging the electrodes, and means for charging the condenser in a reverse direction with reference to said electrodes.

4. The combination of a rotatable container, positive and negative electrodes therein, a mercury bridge therefor, means for rotating the electrodes out of contact with the bridge and for establishing a vapor path in place thereof, a condenser therefor and means for connecting, the respective plates of the condenser with said electrodes.

5.) The combination of a revoluble chamber, a pair of electrodes, aquantity of mercury bridging said electrodes when in a certain position butseparated therefrom when in other positions, a condenser, contact devices connecting the respective condenser plates with a circuit for charging this condenser in a given direction when the electrodes are so bridged, and means for connecting the respective plates of the condenser with said electrodes in a reverse sense when the electrodes are in said other positions.

6. Means for interrupting the connections of an electric circuit, comprising a true nonvaporous conducting path, means for interrupting the said path and substituting therefor an inclosed gas or vapor path, and means for breaking down the inclosed gas or vapor path and establishing a negative electrode resistance with reference thereto.

7. Means for closing and interrupting an electric circuit, comprising an inclosed mercury path, agas or vapor shunt thereto normally short circuited thereby, and means for sending an electric impulse or charge of opposite direction through the gas or vapor shunt when the former has been interrupted and the connections of the latter established in shunt thereto.

8. A quick break circuit interrupter, comprising a revoluble inclosing chamber, a pair of electrodes therein, a quantity of mercury for bridging the respective electrodes when the same are in a predetermined position, together with means for interrupting said bridging between the electrodes of the pair and for substituting a vapor path'thercfor and means independent of the interrupter for discontinuing the flow of current after the separation.

the bridge, and uneans for connecting the plates of the. condenser with the terminals of the switch upon the interruption of current flow through the bridge.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 28th day of April, A D. 1905.

PETER COOPER HEWITT.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL, GEO. H. STOCK'BRIDGE.

9. The combination of an inclosing cham verse to that of the flow of current through 

